Author: Amanda Viviers

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Lebanese Food from Jihad’s resteraunt, and of course Miss Claudine in town!

Well, a big fat apology for the lack of posts, it has reflected in the number of hits so I am really sorry. The last week has been so full on, so great, yet filled with lots of real life moments also.

It started last friday with Tracy and Dom’s wedding which was such an amazing celebration of family and all things italian… Check out the GTC below;

Then My beautiful friend and amazing flatmate for a couple of years, passed away Nicola Trethewey. The funeral was so inspiring and reflected the amazing woman that she is. We had the most defining moment down at the beach as a memorial service for her where we threw 100 lilium’s into the water, it was such a fine send off into the land of eternity, for someone who carried such a great sense of another world already!

The South Building was Launched, and it went off with a bang literally. We lost all power right at the start of the service and it was so funny and stress-full all in one! With a bit of energy conservation (urns off, toilet lights out, candles lit) we were ready to go. With 390 people in the building it was a fine start to a memorable moment in history for our Church.

Then it came to friends arriving in droves for the big weekend and my 30th! I am so overwhelmed at the amazing way that everyone who has been around has celebrated together.

 The travellers- Ruth (Auckland), Sara(Brisbane), Claudine (Sydney), Hannah (Auckland)

We had a moving party on Friday night, starting at Milkd, then moving to a groovy bar with a fine funk duo, then it ended with port, krispy kreme’s, sticky date puddings and a solo jazz player at the north perth town hall. Can’t wait to post the photos!

Saturday we spent the day in Freo at Harvest, then Saturday night headed down to rocky for a pirate party with the fam! Thanks so much to my amazing family who celebrated in style.

 

Some of my amazing family!!!

 

Me and Charotte (God Daughter) on Saturday night!

The weekend plowed on with lunch at Little Creatures, then a supper last night with prawn linguni, spinich salad and icecream. More than the food though the toasts to life lived with people and the love that spans accross the oceans.

For those who couldn’t be with us this weekend, I dedicate this blog to you. I miss you and pray the best for you, you know who you are!

Anyways, should be back to normal with a event management packed week.

Promise to stay more in touch.

Lovin

A

PS- I got the coolest digital camera for my bday, so standby for many more captured moments.

PPS- Just need to learn how to use it!!

Place: Office

Poison: Lollies

Favourite Things: baby aquamarine blue jacket

I got given the coolest little book this week ‘Leunig- the book of common prayers’ and I have loved the simplicity within its folds.

Many of his random musings to God, make me smile, but this one is one of my favourites.

 

For those who can’t read it, it says ‘There comes a moment when all the cables, leads, battery chargers and power adaptors we have ever owned gather together and assemble themselves around us and ask the terrible question, “What happened to your life”…

I have seriously been asking that of myself today. I have waited 3 weeks to get my mobile back from the fixer man, and I have had major withdrawals from it. It is one of those blackberry/internet/phone/camera/everything in one little package deal.

However I have become so used to getting my emails whenever I want them, checking my diary 500 times a day, that I have lost perspective of what life was like without it!

It came back today and seriously you would have thought that I had seen Jesus, or at least won the lotto. However this mortal soul was in trouble as it STILL DOESN’T WORK!!!

So, after much counselling, a bag of lollies and some prayer later, I am sending it back, and hopefully gaining a bit of perspective at the same time.

Mobile phones and technology do not equal life!

Hmmmmmmmmm….

They help, but they don’t dictate it. Turn off your phone during dinner, why not be wild and leave it at home sometimes and for the very daring send them back!

Love

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: My new shoes…

I have been quite unwell the last few days, and with the South Launch, Tracy and Dom’s wedding and a big week of event management I have just not been myself.

To brighten my cold-filled world though, Miss Hannah has arrived from New zealand, and seriously she is like water to my soul.

In my sick, impatient state, she has just served and loved on me and made my busy days bareable. When your unwell, a shining light of inspiration is someone who notices the little things.

She walked down to 130’s early this morning and walked me back a long black! She has encouraged and loved me, made my bed, cleaned my room and those things just mean so much in the midst of cloudiness.

Much more to write about this beautiful woman, but not much time or energy!

I brought a T shirt in New Zealand in January this year that says ‘Be light in the darkness’ for me light is noticing and loving on those around you with the little things.

hmmmm, nice!

A

Ps- Trace and Dom’s wedding was fabulous, photos soon. An amazing night last night.

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: lip gloss

I love this photo, if you look very closely, My sister and I are completely covered in dirt and the cheeky look of pure delight is hilarious.

Today we had our final production meeting before the launch of our new venue and service in the South of Perth, WA. The building seriously is a mess, dirt everywhere, but together we sat with a glow of pure delight, because together we were building something that will service thousands of people in the years to come.

When you build something from scratch, get your hands dirty and together as a family accomplish, the end result is breathtaking. Creativity as a team is the most rewarding of all. However building something with purpose and vision is even more delightful.

I wanted to send out a big toast to Ray Lampard (Project Manager), Craig Tucker (Action Man, Tech genius), Dave Hadfield (sound guru) and all the hundreds of volunteers that have got dirty together out there in the outback of Jandakot.

I wish I had before and after photo’s of how they have transformed a warehouse into a modern, theatre of amazing standards and technology. The cafe is funky as, can’t comment on the coffee yet as the machines not plugged in, but sure to give you an update. The Launch of our South Service 10am this sunday morning. Yehaaaa!

A toast to getting dirty out in the country and doing it as a family.

Rock on Riverview, its such a privelege to get dirty together….(hmm, should I change that line?)

Nah!

lovin

A

Place: My Mums House

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: My mums house…

Tonight has been GOLD! We had Tracy’s last supper at my families house in Rockingham and it was hilarious. For those who don’t know me or havent read previous posts, I have quite wild twin mums who set up a dinner tonight for one of the GTC (green tea cup club, nearest and dearest) who gets married this friday.

Anyway, the men of our family dressed up as waiters and all the women were upstairs extravagantly enjoying the view, the company and our dog.

Tracey was dressed in my aunties wedding dress and my mum and her veil. So very funny, but reminded me of a simlar post that I wrote just a month ago when Elly was getting married but the extension has to do with U2 and a book I am reading at the moment.

The book ‘Walk On’ by Steve Stockman about U2, the page 82, the thought ‘GOLD’…

‘Here’s to the future! The only limitation are the limits of our imagination. Dream up the kind of world you want to live in. Dream out loud at high volume. That’s what we do for a living!!’ Bono New years eve, 1989

Contrasted with a draining coffe barista Bonnie, Rose and I encountered yesterday who whinged for the entire duration of our extraction of our coffee, complaining how boring Perth was, how culturally uncool it was, and how quick he wanted to leave the place. I was like cool, no worries, leave!

He should have seen the balcony of my house tonight, with 12 amazing chicks screaming our heads off and celebrating Tracy and Dom’s future…

Mr Coffee Man from Mount Lawley, you just dont know the right people, and also you are not willing to open yourself up to people who celebrate life with abandonment. Steve Stockman’s book about U2 is really inspiring, but more than that so are my family and friends.

My family, such devout, beautiful Catholics, (my mum and her twins birthdays tomorrow, the big 52!!) they live a life that celebrates the future.

My friends, the GTCC and the extended crew also love to live lives that celebrate the future.

Here’s a toast to Dom and Trace! Have the best last week as singles, in preparation for the most amazing life of unity!

Here’s also a toast to my crazy but unbelievable family, I long to continue to dream up the kind of world we want to live together. We dream out loud at high volume…I ask forgiveness of our neighbours!

Much Love and more

A